Improvement in car-starters



UNITED 4.STATES PATENT GFFICE.

GEORGE W. FIELD AND JOSEPH STEGER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT liN CAR-STARTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 139,563, dated June 3,1873; application fied october s, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE WV. FIELD and JOSEPH STEGER, both ot' thecity, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Car-Starters; and we do hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable thoseskilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawing forming part of this specification, in whichdrawing- Figure l represents a longitudinal vertical section of ourinvention. Fig. 2 is a plan or top View of the same, partly in section.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts'.

This invention relates to a car-starter ot' that class in which thedraft-bar actuates a propelling-pawlthat engages with a ratchetwheelmounted on one otthe axles of the car.

Our invention consists in arranging the propelling-pawl on one arm of abell-crank lever, the other arm oi' which connects with the drattbar,while the propelling-pawl itself connects at or near its working end ortip with a windla-ss or treadle, the tail end ot' said pawl beingsubjected to the action of a weak spring` in such a manner that,whenever a strain is exerted on the draft-bar, the propelling-pawl isdipped and its tip is thrown below the ratchet-wheel o n the car-axle,and 'it' no strain is exerted on the draft-bar the recoveringspring ofthe starting mechanism keeps the tip of the propellingpawl clear otl theratchetwheel, and consequently all danger of injuring the startingmechanism by a retrograde movenient of the car is avoided.

In the drawing, the letter A designates the truck-frame ot' a horse-car,ot' any suitable construction. Said trame is supported by four wheels, BB', which are mounted on axles O O in the ordinary manner. On each ofthese axles is also mounted a ratchet-wheel, D, which is acted on by apawl, ct, in the following manner: Said pawl swings on a pivot,\b, and aweak spring, c, which acts on the tail end of the pawl has a tendency tokeep the working end or tip clear of the ratchetwheel. A chain, d, whichis secured to the pawl at a point between its tip and the pivot b,extends over a guide-roller, e, to the windlass f. By turning thewindlass so as to wind up the chain the tip of the pawl is caused toengage with the ratchet-wheel D. The pivot b, which forms the fulcruinof the piopelliiigpawl, is secured in a lever, g, which is mounted on arock-shaft, L,.\carrLving a second lever, tf, that connects by arod orchain, j, with the drat'tbar E. j From the lever i'. also extends a rod,cwto a recovering-spring, Z, which is common to the two starting devicesat both ends ot' the car, as shown in the drawing. The draftbar E slidesin a suitable socket or guide in the traine A, its motion heilig limitedby a stop on its inner` and a head on its outer end. By the action ot'the recovering-spring Z the draft-har is carried into the position shownat the right-hand end ot' the car in the drawing, and in this case thepawl is raised and it occupies the position shown. When a strain isexerted on the chain d either by turning the windlass or inany othermanner, the tip of the pawl is thrown forward and brought in ugear withthe ratchet-wheel' l), and it' the horses begin to pull the pawl isgradually forced downward andthe axle is turned so as to start the car.When the draft-bar has been pulled clear out to the position shown atthe left end of the drawingthe tip ot' the propelling-pawl is broughtbeneath the ratchetwheel, so that, even it the drivershould omit torelease the windlass and a retrograde inotion of the car should occur,no injury will be done to the starting mechanism. But it' the driver,after having thrown the pawl in gear with the ratchet-wheel, takes hishand oif from the windlass, the strain produced on the chain d by theoutward motion ot' the draftbar, and 'the consequent downward motion ot'the pawl, turns the windlass back, and the tip ot' the pawl is thrownclear back from the ratchetwheel by its spring c as soon as thedraft-bar has reached its extreme outward position, and all danger ot'injuring the starting mechanism is avoided.

Vhat we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The propelling-pawl a, cord or chainV d,

windlassj', and ratchet-wheel D, in combination with the connections kand draft-tongue E, all arranged and operating substantially asdescribed.

G. W. FIELD. JOSEPH STEGER. Witnesses:

W. HAUFF, E. F. KAsTENHUBER.

